Epeunacti
or
Epeunactae (
ἐπεύνακτοι,
ἐπευνακταί). A class of citizens at Sparta who are said to have been the offspring
of slaves and the widows of Spartan citizens. Theopompus tells us (Athen. vi. p. 271 c) that
in the Messenian War, in consequence of the great losses which the Spartans sustained, they
married the widows of those who were slain to Helots, and that these Helots were admitted to
the citizenship under the name of
ἐπεύνακτοι. See
Partheniae.